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How to Read & Use Primary Scientific Articles
Primary scientific articles can be difficult to read and understand. As burgeoning scholars it is vital that you develop reading strategies early on to help you use scientific literature. Click on the links below to learn the common structure of scientific articles and how to navigate them for efficiency and comprehension.
- Anatomy of a Scholarly ArticleThis tutorial from NCSU gives a great visual overview of what the common structure of a scholarly article will look like.
- How to Read a Scientific PaperThis tutorial from Purdue University Libraries gives you strategies on how to efficiently read a scientific paper for comprehension.
Take a dictionary with you!
When you are just getting started in a discipline, one of the most difficult things about reading the literature is understanding the language. Using scientific dictionaries and encyclopedias to look up unfamiliar terms can be hugely helpful.
Use the resources below to assist you as you read:
- WikipediaUse with caution. Great for the simple task of learning definitions and quick overviews on a topic.
Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyProvides a comprehensive survey of modern biochemistry and molecular biology. Includes definitions of terms from the fields of Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Immunology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Systems Biology, and Toxicology.
A Dictionary of BiologyProvides comprehensive coverage of biology, biophysics, and biochemistry.
Suggested Reading Strategy
- Abstract
- Discussion
- Introduction
- Results
- Methods
Remember that reading scientific literature is not easy, even for experts. Having a strategy, along with making sure to look up concepts and terms you don't understand, can be hugely helpful. The above strategy is recommended but developing your own based on your knowledge about what each section contains and what you need to know is key!